Portuguese striker Joao Félix, hired at a high price in 2019 by Atlético Madrid, is leaving the Spanish club to join Chelsea on a six-year contract, the big-spending English club announced on Wednesday.
The amount of the transfer was not disclosed but, according to certain media, it could reach more than 50 million euros. The 24-year-old’s contract comes with an optional extra year, specifying the London club.
English Blues midfielder Conor Gallagher, who signed with Atlético this morning for five seasons, is going the other way.
Joao Félix already knows that Chelsea have played there in the second half of the 2022-2023 season as part of a loan.
Atlético Madrid signed the Portugal international in the summer of 2019 by paying a €126 million fee to Benfica, the fourth highest transaction in world football history.
The left winger, or main striker, played about a hundred games with the “Colchoneros”, with whom he had a contract until 2029, without being an undoubted element in the eyes of Diego Simeone.
With the Madrid club looking for a way out for three years, he played all of last season on loan at FC Barcelona, alternating between starting and coming off the bench during the match.
Like every summer, Chelsea are increasing their recruitment and long-term contracts, a situation that forces coach Enzo Maresca to make difficult choices. Sunday against Manchester City (2-0 loss) at the opening of the Premier League season, he did so without the services of English winger Raheem Sterling, who raised his eyebrows.
When the Portuguese arrived, forty-two players are currently under contract with the west London club, including loans. But only twenty can be used on matchdays in the English Championship.
2024-08-22 02:04:37
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